#AskPaulKirtley

About #AskPaulKirtley

Answers to your questions on wilderness bushcraft, survival skills and outdoor life

Publisher

Paul Kirtley: Professional Outdoorsman

Category

education · society & culture · sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Jun 2015

Latest episode

9 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 94 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   9 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

   #AskPaulKirtley 94 – Seasonal Kit Tweaks, Woodcraft Pioneers, Woodland Access and Some Career Advice

   In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I begin with a practical question about how to adapt a bushcraft camping outfit for different seasons, and what really needs to change as conditions shift. From there, I take a step back and look at what we can learn from the early woodcraft pioneers, particularly their emphasis on skills and knowledge of nature over equipment. I also answer a question about travelling with knives and axes, before moving on to gaining access to woodland and, finally, offering some grounded advice for those considering bushcraft as a career.

2. 

   28 Nov 2025

   #AskPaulKirtley 93 – Bushcraft Mindset, Boreal Winter Trips, Canoe Buoyancy and PK Knives

   In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I start with a big-picture question: is there such a thing as a bushcraft mindset, distinct from survival mindset? From there we move our thinking to the winter woods and look at how to move from guided courses to planning your own unsupported journeys in the boreal forest. I also answer a practical paddling question about additional buoyancy in open canoes, including when you might reasonably leave the buoyancy bags out. Finally, I tackle a short but frequent question: how do you get hold of one of “my” knives; I also use this as an opportunity to revisit the discussion about what place do premium tools really have in a world where a simple Mora still does the job.

3. 

   16 Oct 2025

   #AskPaulKirtley 92 – Sharpening, Sleep Systems, Smaller Bushcraft Knives & Wearing Waterproofs To Bed

   In this episode, I answer a series of practical questions covering gear care, camp comfort, and tool use. I start with how to keep your waterproof jackets and trousers performing properly, then move on to choosing and adapting sleep systems for different conditions—from hammocks in the tropics to bivvy bags in the snow. I also explain how to tell when your knife needs sharpening, why stropping isn’t always enough, and the reasoning behind smaller bushcraft knives such as the PK2. Finally, I address the idea of wearing waterproofs to bed—does it really help, or just leave you damp and cold? As always, my aim is to share what works in the field, not just in theory.

Inside a recent episode

#AskPaulKirtley 94 – Seasonal Kit Tweaks, Woodcraft Pioneers, Woodland Access and Some Career Advice

Published 9 Apr 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] And so what can we learn from them? Well, I think keeping things simple, I think there's a tendency to focus a lot on equipment. I mean, we talk about equipment, we just had a question about equipment, but really it's about the skills, it's about the knowledge of nature, it's about keeping things simple. They didn't have all the modern materials back then that we have now and some of those are useful to us, some of them are not necessarily necessary. Some of the traditional materials for equipment are still just as useful now as they were in the past and things will last longer, but then we've also got the benefit of modern materials. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

5,591,985

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

38 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 77 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

76

Social presence

97

YouTube

93

Engagement

51

Contact #AskPaulKirtley

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.